At a reception, a famous actor was asked to give a recitation. An old preacher suggested the twenty third psalm. He did it with great oratorical skill & sat down to prolonged applause. Then he turned to the old preacher & asked him to recite the psalm also. In a weak & trembling voice, the kindly man uttered the same simple Psalm, but no one applauded this time. People began surreptitiously (secretly) to wipe away their tears. The actor rose again. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “I communicated with your ears and your eyes. I know the words. But my old friend here communicated with your hearts. He knows the Shepherd.”
The 1st verse of Psalms 23 sets the tone for the entire Psalms, David says the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. David expresses total dependence and satisfaction in the Shepherd.
David describes God not as "a" Shepherd or even "the" Shepherd but as "my" Shepherd, which pictures the personal, intimate concern God has for every aspect of the life of His "sheep". Yes, God is the "high & exalted One Who lives forever, Whose name is Holy" but He draws near to care for His "lowly" sheep. (see Is 57:15)
Keep in mind that "shepherds" in the Oriental world were not the most respected profession & yet the One possessing all power & Who knows no limits, stoops to identify with a shepherd.
What practical difference does the liberating truth that He is my personal Shepherd make in my life? David ties the character and person of God to his personal satisfaction when he says; “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
David declares that because of who God is in my life I have everything I need and I don’t want for anything.
Phillip Keller in his book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" emphasizes that "nothing so quieted & reassured the sheep as to see me in the field. The presence of their master & owner & protector put them at ease as nothing else could do...in the Christian’s life, there is no substitute for the keen awareness that my Shepherd is nearby.... There is nothing like Christ’s presence to dispel the fear, the panic, and the terror of the unknown.... it is the knowledge that my Master, my Friend, my Owner has things under control even when they may appear disastrous. This gives me great consolation, repose, and rest."
He, Phillip Keller, once a shepherd himself, relates that the strange thing about sheep is that because of their very makeup, it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met.
(1) due to their timidity, they must be free from all fear.
(2) because of their sociability, they must be free from friction with others of their kind.
(3) they must be free from flies or parasites if they are to relax.
(4) they will not lie down unless free from hunger.
It is only the shepherd who can provide release from all these anxieties.
David’s satisfaction is independent of any outer circumstances but lies in the providential care of the Shepherd. How can David live with such confidence and satisfaction? What can we learn from David that will help us to live in the same satisfaction regardless of our situation?
I believe this text is tailored to teach us, in a nutshell, one thing:
God, our Shepherd, knows how to supply our every need.
Here in this powerful declaration of David, there are three observations of content living in the divine providential care of the Shepherd.
I. The Dangers of Preventing of Satisfaction
While we don’t know the circumstances surrounding the writing of this Psalms, I do believe there is some tension. The tension lies between the providential care of God and our confidence level believing that God can meet our needs.
It’s easy to quote, recite, rehearse, and memorize this verse for consolation and encouragement when all is well in our lives. It’s easy to be satisfied confidence:
- When bills are paid.
- When your house is not in foreclosure.
- When food is on the table.
- When you have a job to go to
- When you can take vacations when ready
- When you’re able to buy clothes by your favorite designer and the best stores
- When you can eat the best foods, drink the best juices, and drive the best cars
- When the marriage is everything you hoped it would be
- When the bank account is full
- When your credit score is 750 and above
Being able to say; “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” is an easy thing to do.
But happens when the house is in foreclosure, you loss your job, you can’t take a vacation, you’re going through a divorce, you can’t buy the best food and clothing, you’re faced with the decision the file BK, and your car is repossessed. Can you still say with confidence, I’m satisfied with God alone?
There is tension in this text because many of us may quote this text with confidence but we don’t exhibit the faith of positive expression of this passage.
When studying this text I asked myself, what is it that keeps us from living in contentment despite our surroundings? I believe we should be aware of what I want to call “Contentment Robbers”. Contentment robbers are things that zap our ability to trust God’s ability to provide our daily needs.
- Complaining
In his booklet, “Complaining Will Only Make Things Worse”, Dr. Dale A Robbins says; “Complaining always has the same symptoms, an expression of unhappiness, dissatisfaction, or discontent. Complaining is the outward expression of discontent from within. And whatever circumstances may cause discontent or dissatisfaction, complaining is always an expression of unbelief toward God’s order in our lives.
As we look back into the OT and see how God dealt with the children of Israel, we discover that the Lord always considered their complaints as an act of unbelief directed toward Him. When they complained about their circumstances, their type of food, and even at Moses, God was displeased because they weren’t thankful for what He had provided them with. He was disappointed that they refused to trust in Him to provide, protect, and direct the order of their lives. Numbers 11:1 says, “Now when the people complained, it displeased God; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp”.
To complain is a slap in God’s face.
Paul warned believers to avoid the danger of complaining in 1 Corinthians 10:10 when he says, “…nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.” In Philippians 2:14, Paul exhorts the church at Philippi, “Do all things without complaining and arguing.”
Complaining is a sign of ingratitude, un-appreciation, and unhappiness. Complaining gives please to Devil to use the weapon of worry, frustration, and anxiety to get down and out.
Here’s the exhortation, be careful not to complain!
- Covetousness
Covetousness is the desire to have more. Do you not know that more is never enough for the more you get the more you want. A story is told of a dog with a bone in his mouth. When he reached the cliff and looked into the water, he noticed something a little disturbing to him, another dog with a bigger bone. When he saw this he started to desire the bigger bone of the other dog. Before long he dropped his bone and jumped into the water after the bigger bone only to discover that the bone he desired was his shadow.
Covetousness is the shadow of what we think to be better than what we have. The unknown writer of Hebrews says; “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you (Hebrews 13:5)."
- Comparison
The three sons of a lawyer, a doctor, and a minister, respectively, were talking about how much money their fathers made.
The lawyer’s son said, “My father goes into court on a case and often comes home with as much as fifteen hundred dollars.”
The doctor’s son said, “My father performs an operation and earns as much as two thousand dollars for it.”
The minister’s son, determined not to be outdone, said, “That’s nothing. My father preaches for just fifteen minutes on Sunday morning and it takes four men to carry the money.”
Comparison is a contentment robber.
- Concern About Tomorrow (Worry)
The Bible Friend says; “Ulcers is what we get from climbing mountains over mole hills”.
While it’s good to be aware of contentment robbers, I believe we should also know how to combat the dangers of content robbers. How do we overcome content robbers?
Two words, Be Thankful.
II. The Decision to be Satisfied
In between the Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want is a decision-making process here. The point is this, living content is solely dependent on you. You have to be content and no one can be content for you.
The parallel passage to this point is Philippians 4:10-13.
Philip. 4:10-13 (Msg)
I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. [11] Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. [12] I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. [13] Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
Paul is in an unpleasant situation, prison. The church at Philippi sends a financial gift of support but Paul let’s them know that while he is grateful for the gift he didn’t need it because he was content.
How did Paul arrive to this decision? Glad you asked three principles:
A. Living content is a learned way of living
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content - Philip. 4:11 (NKJV)
B. Living content is a confident way of living
Philip. 4:12 (NKJV)
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
The Message translations says;
I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.
Here’s my translation of the text; I’m good, ya’ll!
C. Living content is a consistent way of living
Philip. 4:13 (NKJV)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Most people own a calendar or an appointment book in which they record details of future commitments. However, a story is told of A Christian who records key activities until after they’ve taken place.
Here’s his approach: Each morning he prays, "Lord, I go forth in Your strength alone. Please use me as You wish." Then, whenever he accomplishes something unusual or difficult, he records it in his diary in the evening.
For example, he may write, "Today I was enabled to share my testimony with a friend." "Today God enabled me to overcome my fear through faith." "Today I was enabled to help and encourage a troubled person."
This Christian uses the word enabled because he knows he couldn’t do these things without God’s help. By recording each "enabling," he is giving God all the glory. Relying constantly on God’s strength, he can testify with the apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
God always gives enough strength for the next step.
III. The Delight of being Satisfied
Charles H Spurgeon says: "Give me ten million dollars, and one reversal of fortune may scatter it. Give me a spiritual hold on the divine assurance that “the Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” and I am set for life. I cannot go broke with this stock in my hand. I can never be bankrupt with this security...Do not give me ready cash; give me a checkbook and let me withdraw what I need. This is how God works with the believer. God does not immediately transfer the inheritance; He lets us draw what we need out of the riches of His fullness in Christ Jesus.”
And I believe that’s what Paul was trying to teach us in Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”.
This promise assures the believer that whatever is needed God can provide it.
In their book, “The 33 Laws of Stewardship”, Dave Sutherland and Kirk Nowery tells this story:
George Miller hadn’t faced a situation quite like it. Before him were 120 orphans, expectantly seated at long dinner tables. But something at the mealtime tested the mettle of Muller’s heart. On the dinner plates at the table was nothing but crusts of bread. Eager faces looked toward him, as if to say, “What’s for dinner?” But he didn’t know; the cupboard was bare and the icebox was empty. There was no milk, and no money to buy food or drink.
What was George to do? It didn’t take long for him to decide. He would do what he had done every other mealtime. He would instruct the children to bow their heads and join him in thanking God for the meal they were about to eat. He would praise God for the faithfulness of His provision. And so he did. Muller prayed simply, directly, and with a heart filled with faith.
When the amen was pronounced, the plates still had nothing but bread crusts. But as the eyes of those 120 younsters turned again to the head of the table, a knock sounded at the door. One of the boys was sent to answer. A moment later, he called out, “Mr. Muller, it’s the vegetable man! He’s got a lot of stuff for us!” Coincidentally, there were many vegetables that would spoil if he didn’t do something with them. While the vegetables were being unloaded, another person came to the door, the butcher! He had run out of ice at the end of a hot day and faced the prospect of awful, rotting meat. Could the orphans use it? No sooner than he spoken the words that another amazing coincidence occurred. The milkman shows up at the door. Overloaded with diary products and needing to do something desperately, he gave it the orphanage.
Needless to say, the orphanage experienced God supplying every need.
